Our studio was set in Wilson, AR, a small farming community in the Mississippi Delta. Our task was to provide (design) adaptive re-inventions for three historic industrial structures (a cotton gin, a seed building, and a flour building) in the center of town. These structures are essentially ruins in search of new programmatic insertions that contribute to the culture of the Delta town. The proposed programs for the buildings are a Micro-Brewery and restaurant, a boutique hotel, and an Artist live-work (respectively). I was tasked with the adaption of the Cotton Gin building (micro-brewery and restaurant) while me and 2 fellow students collectively designed the site-analysis and city masterplan.
My concept was to add a single adaptation that integrated a lighting, HVAC, and structural design. I did this through the addition of 12 “fins” that created a unique spatial quality on each floor. The “fins” were structural steel, creating a clear distinction between old and new
Integrated Design Studio
Professor Emily Baker, AIA
Location: Wilson, Arkansas
Fall 2019